USA > New York > Steuben County > A history of Steuben County, New York, and its people, Vol. II > Part 29
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY
In 1884 Mr. Clement was united in marriage to Miss Alice Salisbury, who was born at Naples, New York, in July, 1866, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Wilson) Salisbury, the former of whom is a prominent farmer in Naples township and the latter of whom is deceased. Mrs. Clement is a member of the Daughters of Rebekah and is active in the affairs of the local lodge of this order. Mr. and Mrs. Clement have one daughter, Mildred, born in 1886. She was graduated in the North Cohocton high school and also attended the Teacher's Training School of Cohocton. At the present time she is one of the successful and popular teachers in Cohocton township. She is a member of Eastern Star Lodge, of Cohocton, and of the Daughters of Rebekah, of Atlanta.
WILLIAM E. KIMBALL is the owner of a well improved farm of sixty acres in Caton township and is numbered among the successful and popular representatives of the agricultural industry in Steuben county. He is a man of high ideals and sterling integrity and has been prominently identified with church work, as well as with the affairs of the Young Men's Christian Association. His sterling character and his broad humanitarianism have gained to him an inviolable hold upon the confidence and esteem of those with whom he has come in contact in the various relations of life, and as one of the honored citizens of Steuben county he is well entitled to rep- resentation in this publication.
William E. Kimball claims the fine commonwealth of Minnesota as the place of his nativity. He was born in Steele county, that state, on the 18th of June, 1868, and is a son of Lazell and Amanda (Hill) Kimball, the former of whom was born in Wellsboro, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and the latter in Caton township, Steuben county, New York. When William E. Kimball was about one year old his parents returned to Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, and he was but three years of age at the time of his father's death. He was reared to the age of eleven years in the home of his maternal grandfather, William P. Hill, of Steuben county, and in the meanwhile he duly availed himself of the advantages of the district schools. When he was eleven years of age his mother contracted a second marriage, becoming the wife of Robert Richards, of Caton township, this county, and Mr. Kimball passed the following seven years in the home of his mother and step-father. At the expiration of this period his mother was summoned to the life eternal and shortly afterward, at the age of eighteen years, he removed to Iowa and located at Clarion, Wright county. He remained in the west about one year and then returned to Steuben county, where he secured a position in the Corning Glass Works, in the city of Corning. Shortly afterward, however, he was tendered and accepted the position of secretary of the Corning Young Men's Christian Association. He was general secretary for fifteen years and assistant secretary for one year and nine months during which time he did much to further the material advancement and general work of the organization. At the expira- tion of the period noted he went to St. Petersburg, Florida, where he"
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remained about two winters, spending the summers here. He then returned to Steuben county, and in 1907 located upon his present well improved farm in Caton township, to the supervision and work of which he has since given his attention. Besides his valuable home- stead he is also the owner of a number of residence properties in the city of Corning.
In polities Mr. Kimball is a stanch adherent of the Prohibitionist party and he has been most zealous in connection with temperance work. That his convictions in regard to the nefarious liquor traffic are those of action are shown by the fact that he exercises his franchise in support of the cause which he thus advocates. Both he and his wife are earnest and devout members of the Methodist Episco- pal church in the village of Caton, and he is not only a member of its official board but is also the superintendent of its Sunday-school.
At Corning, New York, January 12, 1892, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Kimball to Miss Cora E. Cleveland, who was born and reared in Elmira, and they became the parents of two children : Everett, who was born in the year 1900, and Erwin, who died in infancy. Mrs. Kimball was summoned to the life eternal in April, 1905, and in 1907 Mr. Kimball was united in marriage to Mrs. Bessie (Deyo) Smith, who was born in Steuben county, where they now live, and who is a daughter of Alonzo Deyo. No children have been born of the second marriage. Mrs. Kimball by her former mar- riage to Willard Parker Smith had two children: Cornelia, now Mrs. Benjamin Honness, and Pauline, who is at home.
FRANK DIXSON KINGSBURY .- A man of stanch financial and business ability and of broad, practical views, Frank Dixson Kings- bury is at the forefront among those progressive and influential eiti- zens who have given to Corning a bright and enviable name for a superior brand of aggressiveness and evolution. He has been identi- fied with many of the important concerns of the town and was for twenty-seven years treasurer and general manager of that thrifty enterprise, the Corning Gas Company. A public-spirited citizen and one to be depended upon to give his support to any cause likely to result in the attainment of the greatest good to the greatest number, it was indeed appropriate that he should have served as president of the village.
Mr. Kingsbury's father, Lewis Clark Kingsbury, was a son of Jonathan and Artimisia Kingsbury, and was born in Livonia, New York, December 31, 1815, his death occurring at Corning, September 5, 1889. He married Eliza Dixson, daughter of Henry and Louisa Dixson of Livonia, New York, the date of their union being August 22, 1844. The wife was born at Livonia, April 3, 1825, and died at Corning, November 27, 1901. The removal of the family to Corning was in 1854, Mr. Kingsbury being local station agent for the Buffalo, Corning & New York Railroad Company, now the Rochester division of the Erie Railroad. He continued in this position for some time, later becoming a passenger conductor on the Erie Railroad. In 1868
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he left the employ of the Erie and embarked in the carriage business at Corning, under the firm name of L. C. Kingsbury & Company, and this enterprise he carried on successfully for a number of years. For twenty-five years previous to his death he was president of the Corning Gas Company. As an evidence of the confidence in which he was held by the community in which he lived he was elected to many public offices, among which was president of the village of Corning and supervisor of the town of Corning, holding the latter office at the time of his death. For several terms he was chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Steuben county. For many years he was the president of the Steuben County Agricultural Society.
He was interested in the great basic industry and the natural resources of the county and was president of the Corning Agricultural Society. He and his wife were the parents of two sons, Frank Dix- son Kingsbury, whose name initiates this review, born in Conesus, New York, February 26, 1847; and Fred Stewart Kingsbury, born in Conesus, New York, May 5, 1853, and died at Corning, May 20, 1883. On November 25, 1877, the latter married Carrie Louise Smith, of Painted Post, who died at Painted Post, January 31, 1887. They are survived by one daughter, Ella.
Frank Dixson Kingsbury, as previously mentioned, is a native of the Empire state. He received his preliminary education in the public schools of Corning. He later matriculated in Williston Seminary at East Hampton, Massachusetts, and after finishing there he entered the employ of Cole & Thomson, bankers and insurance agents, of Corning, New York. He also became associated with the Corning Gas Company on March 26, 1864. On December 1, 1874, Mr. Kingsbury purchased the interest of Charles H. Thomson in the Corning Gas Company, and on July 12, 1879, he also purchased that gentleman's interest in the firm of Cole & Thomson, and formed a partnership with Chester S. Cole, under the firm name of Cole & Kingsbury, which continued until July 1, 1901. Following that date the business was continued by Mr. Kingsbury as F. D. Kingsbury & Company. As previously mentioned his connection with the Corn- ing Gas Company as treasurer, general manager and director, was of twenty-seven years' duration prior to 1901, in which year he disposed of all his gas and electric interests.
In addition to these important offices and connections Mr. Kings- bury has had various other interests. For many years he was pres- ident of the Corning fire department, and previous to that had served in the capacity of treasurer for that organization. He was the president of the board of sewer commissioners and also of the board of river commissioners and is the vice-president and executive officer of the board of water commissioners of the city of Corning. He was instrumental in the organization of the Corning Co-Operative Savings & Loan Association, which was incorporated May 14, 1889, and has served as its president since that date. Since the time of its organization he has been the president of the Corning Opera House Company. This versatile and energetic gentleman, whose
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sound judgment and executive ability are of an order which make him a valuable adjunct to any enterprise, is a member of the board of managers of the Corning Free Library and trustee of the First Presbyterian church.
"Mr. Kingsbury is unmarried and resides at 33 East First Street, Corning, New York.
GEORGE W. RYAN .- A wide-awake, enterprising young man, pos- sessing excellent business qualifications, George W. Ryan of Corning, is actively engaged in the real estate and loan business, in which he is meeting with satisfactory success. A worthy representative of the native-born citizens of Corning, his birth occurred November 13, 1881. His father; William G. Ryan, was born at Mount Morris, Livingston county, New York, and was brought up and educated in Yates county. Coming to Steuben county in 1880, he established himself as a merchant in Corning, where he has since been a respected and valued resident. He married Ellen Dormer, who spent her entire life in Corning, her death occurring here December 15, 1909. Five children were born of their union, namely: William, deceased; Ber- tha, wife of T. D. Tennant, of New York city; George W., of whom we write; Catherine; and James D., of Corning.
Bred and educated in Corning, George W. Ryan began hustling for himself at the age of twenty-one years, and in addition to dealing in real estate and making loans has other financial interests in Corn- ing. Paying strict regard to honor and veracity in his transactions, Mr. Ryan has met with most satisfactory success in his undertakings, being recognized as an important factor in the promotion and ad- vancement of the material welfare of his city. He is widely and favorably known, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus, and of the Order of Eagles.
C. E. BEARD .- Steuben county cannot boast of many lawyers better equipped for their profession or of more credit to it than the prominent citizen of Hornell whose name is the title of this article. Mr. Beard was born in what is now the town of Hartsville, Steuben county, July 8, 1843. His father, Erastus S. Beard, of English ex- traction but of Connecticut nativity, came with an ox team to Steuben county in the days when that was an approved mode of travel. He was a teacher, a hotel-keeper and a farmer, was active and influential in public affairs, first as a Whig and finally as a Democrat, and he died on his birthday in March, 1888, deeply re- gretted by all who had known him. His wife, who was Emaline Browne, a native of Pennsylvania, lived to be eighty-six years old. The following facts concerning some of their children will be found to be interesting in this connection. Solomon died in infancy. Clara B. married Solomon B. Huy, of Corning. John M. is deceased. Daniel E. lives in Hornell. Asher M. is deceased. Sabra A. is de- ceased. C. E. was the fourth of the family in order of nativity. He passed the days of his childhood and boyhood in Hartsville, work- ing on the farm and attending public school.
Vol. II-16
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Mr. Beard's real battle for life began when, at eighteen, he went to Canisteo as a clerk in the store of Southworth and Waldo. After he had worked there one year and saved a little money, for the sal- aries of young clerks were very small, he became a student at Alfred, but was obliged soon to give up his studies because of ill health. After having spent a year on the farm at work and in recuperation, he went to Hornell, where for about two years he was employed by E. G. Durfee, merchant and postmaster. During the succeeding two years he conducted a merchant tailoring business on his own account. Then, after devoting a year to the study of law, he entered the Albany Law School, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1869.
Immediately after his graduation Mr. Beard was admitted to the bar of the state of New York. Returning to Hornell he be- came connected with the law offices of Bemis and Near and was soon elected a justice of the peace. Under the law existing then the office was called that of justice of sessions and the County Court was com- posed of county judge and two justices of the peace. He served in that capacity a year. In 1874 he was appointed one of the district clerks of the general assembly at Albany. The session began January 1, 1875, and ran through the winter. Hiram A. Calkins was clerk of the assembly and Daniel S. Lamont was the chief en- grossing clerk. At the close of the session he returned to Hornell and resumed the general practice of the law, in which he has since been very successful. In 1876 he took an active part in the presi- dential campaign in support of the Hon. Samuel J. Tilden. Since then he has been active as a Democrat. He worked in Steuben county for the nomination of President Cleveland in 1892 and in the campaign was active in the advocacy and promotion of his election. He has supported each successive Democratic nominee for the presi- dency since, doing his best for Bryan, and he is now a firm believer in the destiny of Judge Gaynor of New York city. For twelve years, under the village and under the city government, he filled the office of justice of the peace with rare ability and fidelity.
In 1873, Mr. Beard married Miss Cora Swain. She died in the fall of 1875; and in February, 1898, he married Miss Josephine M. Collins. In connection with his legal practice he has been active in the handling of real estate. He owns considerable real estate in the city and a fine dairy farm near by. His solicitude for the growth and advancement of Hornell is such that it impels him fre- quently to the exhibition of a commendable public spirit which marks him as a most useful citizen.
VALENTINE RETTIG .- Worthy of special mention in this bio- graphical volume is Valentine Rettig, of Corning, who is a self- made man in every sense implied by the term. Coming to this city from Germany when young, he has risen from humble surround- ings and limited circumstances without the assistance of influential friends or the advantages of wealth, steadily working his way up-
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ward until today he is a power in the manufacturing and commercial life of the city, being at the head of the "Rettig Bottling Works," a substantial and successful industry. He was born June 11, 1846, in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, where he was bred and educated.
At the age of eighteen years ambition impelled him to leave the Fatherland and in America seek the fortune waiting the young men of industry, perseverance and sobriety. Locating in Corning in 1865, soon after his arrival in this country, Mr. Rettig entered a tinning establishment and for two years managed the mercantile de- partment of the company by which he was employed, the next two years being engaged in the grocery business. He was afterwards a dealer in meats and provisions for three years, and then changed his occupation, becoming a hotel keeper. In connection with his hotel, Mr. Rettig in 1875 embarked in the bottling business, beginning on a modest scale but he has now an extensive plant, the pro- ductions of which find a ready market in the different towns, cities and villages of Steuben county, his variety of soft drinks being widely known and in great demand. In 1909 Mr. Rettig sold his entire business to his daughter Mabel, and her husband, Thomas O'Connor, but the old firm name is still retained.
Since casting his first presidential vote in 1872 for U. S. Grant, Mr. Rettig has been a zealous advocate of the principles of the Re- publican party, and has been prominent in public affairs. In 1893 he was elected to represent the Third ward on the Board of Alder- men, and has since been elected to the same position four different times. In 1904 Mr. Rettig was elected mayor of Corning on the Democratic ticket, and in 1906 was elected to the same high office on the Independent ticket, which was supported by the Republicans. Fraternally Mr. Rettig is one of the oldest members of Corning Lodge, No. 1071, B. P. O. E., and he is also a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of the Maccabees.
In May, 1870, Mr. Rettig married Mary Greger, and they are the parents of six children, namely: Matilda, Fred, Kate, Elmira, wife of Walter Wood; Hattie, wife of John McAvoin and Mabel, wife of Thomas O'Connor.
TRUMAN S. PRITCHARD .- The descendant of an early family of Corning, Steuben county, Truman S. Pritchard is distinguished as the longest-established merchant in this part of the county, having been continuously engaged in business here for forty-seven consecu- tive years. A man of noble character and good business capacity, he has won well-deserved success through his fidelity to his trusts and his honest, upright dealings with the people; and the respect and esteem in which he is justly held by all bears evidence of his straightforward manly life. He was born August 11, 1837, in Law- renceville, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, which was also the birthplace of his father, Hiram Pritchard.
Hiram Pritchard was born February 7, 1818. About 1838 he came from Pennsylvania to New York, locating in Corning, where he followed his trade of a miller many years, being also engaged
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in the lumber business to some extent, and for some time con- ducting a grocery store. He died in Corning February 6, 1896, at the good old age of seventy-eight years. He was of Welsh descent, and inherited in a marked degree many of the traits of character that distinguishd his honored ancestors. His wife, whose maiden name was Lucinda Searles, was born December 1, 1817, in Tioga county, New York, and died in Corning, New York, in 1888. They reared two sons and one daughter, Truman S., the subject of this brief biographical sketch, being the eldest child.
About a year old when his parents came to Corning, Truman S. Pritchard was here bred and educated, obtaining his early knowl- edge in the common schools. Soon after attaining his majority he embarked in mercantile pursuits, from 1861 until 1866 dealing in gro- ceries. In 1867 Mr. Pritchard established himself in the hardware busi- ness in the building which he is now occupying, and has since conducted a large and lucrative trade, increasing his stock in quantity, quality and variety as the wants of his many patrons demanded. He is the oldest merchant of the city and is widely known and highly re; spected.
No man has taken greater interest in the growth and prosperity of his home city than Mr. Pritchard, and none has been more willing to contribute of his time and means to further its interests. For eight years he served as chairman of the Republican County Commit- tee. He was one of the aldermen of the village of Corning in 1865 and 1866, and was collector of the port of Corning four years. He is very prominent in Masonic circles, having passed through all the chairs of Masonry and is one of the few men in this part of the state that has taken the thirty-third degree of the craft.
On December 1, 1858, Mr. Pritchard married Mary W. McCarty, and of their union two sons and two daughters were born. One son and both daughters have passed to the life beyond, the only child living being their son Harrie W.
Harrie W. Pritchard was born August 13, 1863, in Corning, and was here brought up. He received his elementary education in the public schools, afterwards attending the Corning Free Academy. In 1882 he was graduated from the Peekskill Military Academy, after which he continued his studies at the Syracuse University. Return- ing from that institution to Corning, he has since been actively en- gaged in business with his father. Following in the political footsteps of his father, he is active in the Republican ranks, and for two terms has served as alderman from the Second ward. He married April 28, 1889, Bertha Roe, and they have one daughter, Margaret Pritchard.
HON. WILLIAM RUMSEY, son of Supreme Court Justice David Rumsey and Jane E. (Brown) Rumsey, was born at Bath, Steuben county, New York, October 18, 1841. He was educated early in life in the public and private schools of Bath. He early developed a com- prehensive desire to investigate all questions of an intricate nature, especially those involving the principles of government, civil rights
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and political economy. He prepared for and entered Williams Col- lege, in Massachusetts, in 1857, became an industrious and promising student, attracting the attention of the whole faculty. The exciting political campaign of 1860, developed his enthusiasm for the party of Lincoln, and during his vacation in that year he became the captain of and drilled the political marching clubs of that historic political campaign, known as the "Wide Awakes."
In April, 1861, after the assault upon Fort Sumter, and a few weeks before the commencement of his college term, William Rumsey with other young men, closed their books, turned their backs on the classic halls, gave up their cherished hopes and ambition, to answer to the call for troops to maintain the integrity of the Union, but in recognition of his standing and his sacrifice, he was graduated by his Alma Mater in June, 1861. Soon after his enlistment in the mili- tary service of the United States, he was, at Elmira, New York, ap- pointed aid-de-camp to General Robert B. Van Valkenburg, an uncle (the husband of his father's sister) ; on October 17 of that year he resigned that office and was appointed first lieutenant and adjutant, in the First New York Light Artillery, commanded by Colonel C. D. Bailey; in November he went with his regiment to Washington and remained there in camp until April, 1862, when Colonel Bailey was assigned to the position of Chief of Artillery, in Casey's division in the Fourth Army Corps, and Lieutenant Rumsey went with Colonel Bailey to his new post. He reached Newport News, Virginia, with his division, in the fore part of April, and went to the front. He was engaged in the siege of Yorktown, Virginia, till May 4, and the next day he participated in the battle of Williamsburg; he was in the Peninsular campaign from that day till May 31, when, in the battle of Fair Oaks, his horse was shot under him and he was severely wounded in the shoulder and sent north. On his return to duty he was promoted to the rank of captain and assistant adjutant general for bravery at Fair Oaks. He was assigned to the command of Gen- eral William W. Averill, a Steuben county, New York, West Point graduate, with whom he participated in many engagements, mostly in West Virginia. His gallant services rendered his promotion steady, and on the 25th of May, 1865, he was commissioned a major, for bravery at Moofield, West Virginia, when he led one column of the sixteen hundred Federal troops, under General Averill, who at- tacked and utterly routed thirty-two hundred Confederate troops, killing, wounding and capturing one-half of the entire force, and dis- persing the remainder. In further reward for his services he received from President Andrew Johnson a further commission as lieutenant colonel, with rank from March 13, 1865, and stated it was given for distinguished services in the campaign of May, June and July, 1864. In February, 1868, he received from Governor Reuben E. Fenton, of New York, a commission of brevet colonel, for meritorious services in the late war. It was the opinion of general officers, among them General Casey and General Averill, that Colonel Rumsey should have received a much higher commission than he had attained.
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